10/13/2011

Have Cover Letters Gone the Way of the Dinosaurs?

Ok - time to get into the mind of a recruiter - HRU's Keepin It Real edition. The following post is from Brooke Cummings - one of HRU's dynamic Account Managers who came up through the ranks of recruiting, and she gives you her feelings on whether an applicant/candidate should have a Cover Letter or not - then - I'll respond with what I think!

From Brooke...

Is it true? Are cover letters a thing of the past, extinct? I received a resume today to my email with no cover letter and in the subject line it read, “ Position”. THINK AGAIN FRIENDS!

Here’s my take. If you can’t give me the time to introduce yourself, I CANT GIVE YOU THE TIME OF DAY period! It shows lack of ambition, laziness right off the bat. Sorry so harsh but I am looking for something special… a colored font, curly Q’s, a special quote, SOMETHING! Actually wait, don’t do a colored font on your resume, it’s annoying. Just be smart, follow the tips below and don’t over think it.

Bottom line: Unless you like to send your resume into other people's trashcans, make sure that a cover letter accompanies your resume.

Research your target organization, know the name and gender of the person who will review your resume. IT’S A FACT -People love seeing their name on important documents.

Your resume talks about you; your cover letter talks to your intended employer. Describe in your cover letter special benefits that set you above other applicants and why your perfect for the job, Brag a little, but don’t get CRAZY. Nobody wants to read about your award for winner of the 1989 Hometown arm wrestling tournament you were in. Nobody cares. Keep it to work related things.

Save the salary discussion for the interview, not your cover letter. (If you put your salary requirement on there you might as well say, “Maybe you have heard of me I’m kind –of a big deal’.)

Once you have submitted your resume and cover letter, It is ok to call or e-mail to confirm it was received, just but don’t be a stalker.

Remember, you have skills that set yourself apart, so show them off on a cover letter and not inappropriate profile pictures on Facebook.

Tim's Counterpoint...

Really - you're going to throw a resume into the trash can because they didn't introduce themselves or send you a proper Cover Letter!? I don't care if they even put their last name on the resume - if they have talent - if I can fill one of my hard-to-fill needs with them - I'm calling them up!

Look, I'm not one of these "Old School" HR types who needs all the "Pomp and Circumstance" of our "normal" HR/Recruiter applicant dance we make people go through. I don't require perfection on a resume - do I question a misspelling? Sure, but is it a deal breaker - heck no! I'm looking for talent, the best talent many times doesn't even have a resume put together - so when I ask them to do one - and hurry it up! - I expect it's not going to be perfect.

Cover letter were a part of our Grandparents generation - when you had to send a resume in the mail on "marbled" french vanilla colored paper that had some weight to it ("weight" of paper is a concept most people under 30 don't even understand!). When the "personnel" manager had to read each cover letter and resume specifically to find out which hiring manager to forward it onto. With todays technology advances - cover letters actually get in the way of the process!

So, what have we learned kids? If you want job at HRU - send Brooke your Cover Letter - Don't send Tim your Cover Letter. If you really want a job at HRU - send your resume to one of our recruiters! (you can check them out here!)